The Retreading Rebound Relationship

Rebound relationships—becoming involved in a relationship that shortly follows the ending of a previous one— are not necessarily misguided or unhealthy, as I explained in a previous post. However, a common and somewhat emotionally risky type of rebound relationship involves venturing into the territory of past partners. What motivates us to pursue a connection with someone from the past who did not work out the first time around?

In looking up a past partner, you may be aware of feeling a confusing urgency that becomes linked to curiosity about what’s going on with them. If your current failed relationship was worse than any of the previous ones, it’s possible that in retreading you imagine you can improve upon what you once had and left behind.

Reconnecting with an old flame may distract you from the current loss and may temporarily provide emotional stability, but in the long run retreading tends to backfire. Even if the initial reconnection is exciting, the difficulties of the past will eventually emerge—perhaps a passing reference to an issue that divided you in the first place or recognizing a characteristic of the person that had previously offended you. The fragile façade of possibility usually gives way to the reality of the impossible: what didn’t work before will not work now. You might end up asking yourself, “What am I doing?” In any case, your friends or family members will certainly wonder because, unlike you, they don’t have the urgency to connect that enables them to deny the emotional memories of your previous relationships.

However, the fact that you’ve been there before, and may make the same mistakes, is not the primary issue. What’s important to consider is the avoidance of what you feel: The sensations of disconnection are difficult to tolerate. When a relationship ends we may be adrift—as though we do not have an anchor that grounds us in a vast and turbulent sea of feelings. Disconnection from a significant relationship activates distress, fear, or shame that can transform into sadness, longing, disappointment, loneliness, anger, or a sense of unworthiness. Rebounding to leftovers from the past can only provide a temporary shield from the pain experienced with loss and the anticipatory anxiety of moving forward.

Generally, the connection found in a rebound relationship can help recovery, but a retreading rebound might ultimately amplify the pain. Going back will inevitably activate emotional memories that led you to leave the first time. As a result, you may end up with the pain of two current relationships that have gone badly and a temptation to believe that it must be your fault. At that point, you may turn to a new set of coping responses beyond those used to deal with what you felt in the initial loss.

When a relationship ends, a retreading rebound relationship is not necessarily toxic, but is simply an avoidance response to negative emotions. As I have mentioned in previous posts, the designation of an emotion as positive or negative has little to do with its value, but instead refers to how the emotion motivates us by the way it makes us feel. Negative emotions, such as shame, fear, anger, or distress motivate us to do something to avoid experiencing them or they urge us to behave in ways that will relieve their effects. Other behaviors that people commonly use to relieve what they feel when a relationship ends include the excessive use of alcohol or drugs, random hook-ups, or engaging in highly stimulating activities. Avoidance responses are not always so apparently self-defeating, and many can even temporarily enhance self-esteem, such as workaholisim or a ruthless pursuit of perfection.

Human beings are designed to seek connection. Moving on, rather than treading on the old path, is sometimes very difficult. Accepting what we feel and taking a look at the illusions we hold in a temptation to rekindle a former relationship can teach us something about ourselves. We cannot erase emotional memories, however we can alter our reactions to present emotional responses.

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Phoebe was invited and attended an open call for National American Miss on May 18th. After being interview by the committee she was chosen as one of New Jersey's state finalist. Our next step for Phoebe to proceed is attaining sponsors. As we all know times are tough however, she would appreciate any amount you would be able to contribute. Phoebe is very excited to represent her state in August. The pageant goals are for her to gain poise and self-confidence, practice speaking in front of a live audience, and become actively involved in her community. All donations are tax deductible for businesses as an advertising expense. All sponsors will be listed in the state year book. Thank you for your time whether you chose to sponsor or not. The Armstead Family Help spread the word!